Residential Mail - Do You Need Saturday Delivery?

[dave1949]

A business exists to make money. Without making a profit, you cease to exist as a business after a period of time IMO (unless of course the goverment is paying you some sort of subsidy).

The problem IMO is that the goverment has no business being in business in a capitalist enviroment.

You can send a letter via UPS or Fed Ex, no problem.

Fed Ex and the UPS can run circles around the USPS IMO.

However, in some rural areas, UPS or Fed Ex can't "promise" a Saturday delivery due to their truck routes.

It cost me close to $20 to mail that letter from the USPS today to ensure that it would arrive by the 24th of this month in Pennsylvania.

Only thing I don't like nowadays is that Fed Ex and UPS is getting lazy and leaving packages in the driveway somewhere, and you may have to look for them behind a bush.

Evening SigArms,

I just checked, it costs $21.82 for FedEx 2Day service Raleigh to Philly (for example) including a scheduled residential pickup at your end.

My question remains; what will UPS or FedEx do for you for 44 cents? They are not in the same business - checking 99.9% of the US mailboxes for outgoing mail and leaving mail six days per week.

Actually, I shouldn't say 'business', the USPS was never a true business. It was founded as a government service and remains a quasi-government organization that tries to be self-supporting. There are many Federal laws that apply to the postal service from your mailbox to politician's franking privileges.

I don't think current politics enter into the discussion.
From wikipedia:
The United States Postal Service (USPS) is an independent agency of the United States government responsible for providing postal service in the United States. It is one of the few government agencies explicitly authorized by the United States Constitution. Within the United States, it is commonly referred to as the "Post Office", "Postal Service", or "U.S. Mail".

Though postal services have existed on American territory before the United States' establishment, the USPS's first incarnation was established by Benjamin Franklin in Philadelphia in 1775 by decree of the Second Continental Congress. The Post Office Department was created from this in 1792 as part of the United States Cabinet, its current form in 1983 under the Postal Reorganization Act.

Since its reorganization into an independent organization, the USPS has become self-sufficient and has not directly received taxpayer-dollars since the early 1980s. The decline of mail volume due to increased usage of e-mail has forced the postal service to look to other sources of revenue while cutting costs to maintain this financial balance.[3]


If you aren't happy with the USPS - tell Ben about it :laughing:

 

[Sigarms]

My question remains; what will UPS or FedEx do for you for 44 cents?

Nothing.

However, what do you spend 44 cents on for the postal service?

For myself, pretty much nothing. I utilize E-mail and online banking.

It was founded as a government service and remains a quasi-government organization that tries to be self-supporting.

The key word being "tries".

If you aren't happy with the USPS - tell Ben about it :laughing:

Personally, I really don't care By the way, who is Ben?

the USPS has become self-sufficient and has not directly received taxpayer-dollars since the early 1980s

I'm guessing why that's why they aren't "making" any money. No tax dollars anymore LOL

What I do know from talking with my mother in law is that the postal service is in a world of hurt, and they are taking cost cutting measures and one person is now trying to take the job of four.

 

[dave1949]

However, what do you spend 44 cents on for the postal service?

For myself, pretty much nothing. I utilize E-mail and online banking.

I'm guessing why that's why they aren't "making" any money. No tax dollars anymore LOL

What I do know from talking with my mother in law is that the postal service is in a world of hurt, and they are taking cost cutting measures and one person is now trying to take the job of four.

I use the mail for a couple monthly bills; electric and cable/internet/phone - which I could do via electronic banking. I pay my condo fees in Ohio and trash pickup by mail - no elec. banking possible. Receive and return NetFlix movies by mail - much cheaper and more convenient than driving to video rental store - which are disappearing anyways. I still enjoy paper magazines, get a couple monthly, one weekly. Other odds and ends in the mail. So, I do make use of the postal service.

Since the postal service is supposed to be self-supporting, as their volume decreases, they have to do something. Raise rates, lower costs or lower service levels or a combination of those. Eliminating Saturday delivery for example, may be a way to lower costs and service levels that allows the rates to not rise as rapidly. I can see from some posters, not having Saturday mail would be a legitimate problem.

I think Crusty 1 has a valid viewpoint too. What's the point of trying to get everybody to work for wages that won't support a family? Probably the biggest problem facing them is the cost of paying out pensions. Most private company's defined benefit pension plans are currently underfunded too.

I have no idea how 'hard' the average postal employee works. Whenever I am at the local, small post office, they all seem to be working, they are polite, pleasant and know how to do their jobs.
Dave.

 

[MikePA]

I think Crusty 1 has a valid viewpoint too. What's the point of trying to get everybody to work for wages that won't support a family?

Like anything else, someone's labor is worth what someone else will pay them, not an arbitrary and nebulous 'wage that will support a family'. A government entity, like the USPS, is the only 'business' in the world where, when demand for their product/service drops, they can raise the cost of it. Raising the rates merely speeds up the death spiral of the USPS.

 

[Sigarms]

Receive and return NetFlix movies by mail - much cheaper and more convenient than driving to video rental store -

Isn't it ironic that Netflix put a hurting on Blockbuster, and now Redbox is putting a hurting on Netflix? Like you, we used Nextflix, but now enjoy using Redbox when we're "out and about". I guess the ever changing face of business.

I still enjoy paper magazines

Likewise, we still get them. As mentioned previously, it doesn't seem to be the written corrospondence as we know as "mail" that keeps the USPS going, but magazines and "junk mail". They (USPS) may not have to deal with the Christmas Sears catalog anymore, but they do get me my Cabela's Master Catalog

I have no idea how 'hard' the average postal employee works. Whenever I am at the local, small post office, they all seem to be working, they are polite, pleasant and know how to do their jobs.

I can say the same about my mother in laws office in New England as well when I visted. All I can say is that she was VERY happy to retire and get out. She had some very interesting stories.

However, try going to the Greensboro NC post office in the afternoon. They have 3 people working 10 counters and the line is longer than kiddies at a Hanna Montana concert.

Like anything else, someone's labor is worth what someone else will pay them, not an arbitrary and nebulous 'wage that will support a family'. A government entity, like the USPS, is the only 'business' in the world where, when demand for their product/service drops, they can raise the cost of it. Raising the rates merely speeds up the death spiral of the USPS.

Very well said.

As I previously mentioned, back in the 80's when my buddy was working for the post office, I couldn't believe his pay rate and the overtime he regularly got. Added the fact that he could roll whatever vacation he didn't use? Heck, you have people at the end of their careers with the USPS that probably have years accumulated in vacation time that they use for early retirement. Just seems like a lot of money at the time for walking around the street delivering mail.

 

[keegs]

Dave...you forgot to mention birthday cards and LL Bean.

You can download movies from NetFlix.

Maybe WalMart should take over postal delivery.

There's a problem here. While we become ever more productive we leave allot of folks behind. We can't support our high living standard with the jobs WalMart offers. Improving education can address some of this. That's to say instead of importing skilled labor from around the world, we can grow our own. But that idea has its disadvantages an isn't any kind of magic bullet.

 

[dave1949]

Like anything else, someone's labor is worth what someone else will pay them, not an arbitrary and nebulous 'wage that will support a family'. A government entity, like the USPS, is the only 'business' in the world where, when demand for their product/service drops, they can raise the cost of it. Raising the rates merely speeds up the death spiral of the USPS.

Good morning Mike,

As far as economic theory goes, that is true; it's worth what someone will pay for it. We all constantly evaluate what we receive for what we pay or what we provide.

The difference per a 'living wage' is a failed business doesn't have to eat, people do. People need jobs worth having - even while needing to compete with each other. I took that to be the gist of Crusty_1's point. I think it is also the philosophical underpinnings of the minimum wage. A recognition that, as Keegs put it, people can be left behind. I hope we care at least as much about people as we do an economic theory. They are both important.

Sorry for the politics.

We can send Grandma a birthday card for 44 cents, there is nothing remotely that inexpensive other than an e-card. Even if it cost $1, there is nothing close. I would argue that the problem facing the USPS is due to a vanishing service need, not the cost of service. If there were money to be made at the letter rates USPS charges, someone would figure out a way to do it without using our 'federally monopolized' mailboxes.

At the same time, the USPS, unlike a real business, can't diversify into just any other product areas that look attractive. Nor can they buy out their competition as a real business might do. It just doesn't make a lot of sense, to me, to compare the position and operation of the USPS to a business.
Dave.

 

[FallbrookFarmer]

Good morning Mike,

As far as economic theory goes, that is true; it's worth what someone will pay for it. We all constantly evaluate what we receive for what we pay or what we provide.

The difference per a 'living wage' is a failed business doesn't have to eat, people do. People need jobs worth having - even while needing to compete with each other. I took that to be the gist of Crusty_1's point. I think it is also the philosophical underpinnings of the minimum wage. A recognition that, as Keegs put it, people can be left behind. I hope we care at least as much about people as we do an economic theory. They are both important.

Sorry for the politics.

We can send Grandma a birthday card for 44 cents, there is nothing remotely that inexpensive other than an e-card. Even if it cost $1, there is nothing close. I would argue that the problem facing the USPS is due to a vanishing service need, not the cost of service. If there were money to be made at the letter rates USPS charges, someone would figure out a way to do it without using our 'federally monopolized' mailboxes.

At the same time, the USPS, unlike a real business, can't diversify into just any other product areas that look attractive. Nor can they buy out their competition as a real business might do. It just doesn't make a lot of sense, to me, to compare the position and operation of the USPS to a business.
Dave.

!BE CAREFUL HERE!

 

[crusty 1]

Folks, all I know is that when a worker makes a decent wage they are abale to purchase.When they no longer can purchase the things this great country makes everyone loses.We need to think of long term,the only items that will survive no matter what are bars and funeral homes.Get people making solar panels and wind generators.It just seems to me that people are becoming angery and that doesn,t severve anyone but the politicos that cause all this turmoil while theyer running off with the cookie jar!I,m no longer working but my so. sec. check allows me to buy things I need that you perhaps make,or you nieghbor makes.We,ve become so caught up in this petty stuff and need to become more concerned about the whole picture.I don,t care that you perhaps make more than me as long as we all get a small piece of the pie.In the 40s,50s the corporations made money the workers made money and the economy hummed along nicely.When no one is left with an income they can no longer participate. Remember the roman empire?You all have a great day.

 

[FallbrookFarmer]

Perhaps it doesn't belong here, but here goes.
I understand Republican Vs. Democrat, but does a discussion of an economic or a moral issue morph automatically into a "political" issue?

And if so, is it prohibited?
Just asking